Ideas for a

Ideas for a VEGETARIAN Thanksgiving

Drop the traditional turkey. Here are some meatless dishes to make the holiday just as unforgettable

MELANIE FOURIE

This Thanksgiving, turkey can wait. Going meatless for Thanksgiving is indeed possible and can be just as enjoyable. We’ve got everything you need right here for a vegetarian feast that everyone will love, from main dishes to delectable accompaniments. Here’s how to pull off a successful meatless Thanksgiving dinner!

APPETIZER HITS

Set your Thanksgiving culinary scene with these delightful entrées.

BAKED BRIE WITH DELECTABLE CRANBERRY JAM

This entrée brings a traditional Thanksgiving must-have like cranberries to the fore. The traditional brie en croute is given a modern twist in this dish by using a savory-sweet cranberry jam. The secret is to cut off excess dough as you envelop the brie; otherwise, the pastry won’t cook properly. The brie may be wrapped in puff pastry and refrigerated for up to 24 hours, making this an ideal appetizer for entertaining on short notice. To get the best outcome, use an egg wash on the outside just before baking, and present it to guests hot.

Brie cheese rolled in dough and drizzled with cranberry jam is a delicious entrée.

CREAMY PUMPKIN SOUP

Pumpkins are synonymous with Thanksgiving, so what better way to start your feast with them, right? Very few things are more comforting than a bowl of this traditional pumpkin soup, yet it takes hardly any time at all to prepare. The following is a RecipeTinEats spinoff that’ll have your visitors begging for more. To dunk, you must have lightly buttered, crispy bread.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup water • Salt and pepper to taste • Pumpkin (about 25 pounds) • 3 cups vegetable stock • Peeled garlic cloves (preferably 2-3) • 1 sliced onion • 3/4 cup fresh cream

METHOD

1. Slice the pumpkin into bite-sized pieces. Remove the rind and scoop the seeds out. 2. Cut into bite-size pieces about 1.5 inches long. 3. The pumpkin, garlic, water, onion, and broth should be combined in a saucepan, with the liquid level not quite covering the pumpkin. 4. Cover and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and simmer until pumpkin is cooked through.

Remove from heat and blend with a hand blender until smooth. 5. Add salt and pepper, then pour in the cream. 6. Distribute the soup into dishes and top with the optional topping of parsley. 7. Accompany this with your crispy bread, and you’re ready to go.

Pumpkin soup is a great start for Thanksgiving feasting.

Mac and cheese, a classic Thanksgiving staple.

FLAVORFUL MAIN DISHES

The following dishes are great alternatives for meaty main courses.

MUSHROOM-INFUSED MAC AND CHEESE

Mac and cheese is an all-time Thanksgiving favorite. It’s also one of the simplest main dishes to concoct! For a meat version, instead of tossing in some bacon or ham bits, add a generous amount of baby portobello mushrooms!

Note that it’s typical to see macaroni and cheese in two distinct varieties: In the French variant, a simple béchamel sauce is used to create a velvety sauce (a flour-and-butter variation with milk). Southern mac and cheese is baked and often includes a variety of cheeses, eggs, and evaporated milk. Irrespective of the sauce you choose, both are guaranteed to tickle your taste buds!

FOOD & DRINKS | SEEMA

VEGETABLE SHEPHERD’S PIE WITH MASHED YAMS

This is ideal for those tired of the ground beef variation, as you can use a concoction of your favorite mixed veggies as a filling, with, of course, your favorite seasoning. It’s also a healthier version of a traditional shepherd’s pie with potato mash, as you’ll be using mashed yams as your topping, which is less starchy than potatoes.

Once your mashed yams are grilled and golden brown, add a sprinkling of grated nutmeg over the top for a burst of spicy flavor! You may also grate some tasty white cheddar over the pie before placing it in the oven.

Mashed yams are placed over the veggie mix in this pie variation.

MEATLESS SIDE DISHES

These side dishes are the perfect companion for vegetarian Thanksgiving main courses.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH HONEY AND MUSTARD

Veggies provide both hue and flavor to your Thanksgiving feast and are just as vital as the main attraction. Brussels sprouts cooked in the oven are perfect since they keep their adorable form and need less prep work.

Raise these to the next level by glazing them with a sweet and tangy honeymustard glaze, making them the talk of your Thanksgiving dinner!

Brussels sprouts are the main ingredient for many delicious Thanksgiving side dishes.

Parsnips are a great addition to any Thanksgiving table.

ROASTED PARSNIPS

On the hunt for a quick and easy Thanksgiving side dish? Your problem can be solved with parsnips. The time has come to give them the acclaim they have so rightfully earned, but until now, they have gone unrewarded. By roasting them, you can quickly produce a delicious side dish that is just as good as a turkey!

Nothing rounds off a delicious Thanksgiving meal like pecan pie!

DECADENT THANKSGIVING DESSERTS

There is always space for dessert, even after a substantial Thanksgiving meal. A sweet craving must be satiated on Thanksgiving, and that means a wide variety of baked goods, from traditional pies to cakes and cookies.

A CLASSIC PECAN PIE

The traditional American Thanksgiving dessert of old-fashioned pecan pie is a flaky, buttery pie crust filled with a sweet custard filling and topped with a generous helping of chopped pecans. This lovely pie is incredibly simple to prepare.

Trifles are universally loved by most folk. This sweet treat has a medley of exotic and familiar tastes because of the inclusion of cranberries, lime, and coconut. This is a nice way to round off a Thanksgiving feast that deviates from the norm.

So you have it – an assortment of lip-smacking entrées, main and side dishes and delicacies for the most discerning palate!